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An investigation into the effects of dietary supplementation of coconut oil on blood lipids and anthropometric measurements in healthy adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 September 2015

J. Webb ,
I. Alaunyte  and
F. Amirabdollahian
J. Webb
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, L16 9JD
I. Alaunyte
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, L16 9JD
F. Amirabdollahian
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, L16 9JD
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Abstract

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Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 74 , Issue OCE5: Summer Meeting, 6–9 July 2015, The future of animal products in the human diet: health and environmental concerns , 2015 , E309
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Copyright © The Authors 2015 

Coconut oil is a natural food product containing relatively high amounts of MCFAs. A number of studies that have been conducted to assess the effects of coconut oil supplementation on health benefits produced equivocal results( Reference Schwab and Maliranta 1 , Reference Temme and Hornstra 2 ). Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) have recently received a lot of attention due to their substantial metabolic difference when compared with long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs)( Reference Marten and Schrezenmeir 3 ). The proposed benefits associated with consumption of MCFAs products include weight control, glucose and lipid metabolism( Reference Schwab and Maliranta 1 ). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of incorporating virgin coconut oil (VCO) into the habitual diet on anthropometric measurements and blood lipid profiles in healthy adults.

After obtaining ethical approval, mixed gender participants (n 35, aged 18–50) were recruited and assigned to a control (n 14, no dietary change) or intervention group (n 21, replacement of usual cooking oil with VCO for 4 weeks). The anthropometric measurements and fasting capillary blood lipid profile markers were obtained at baseline and post intervention. Energy and nutrient intakes were assessed using a 3-day food diary and analysed using dietary assessment software Microdiet. Statistical analysis was conducted by repeated measures ANOVA using SPSS (v 22) and statistical significance was set at P < 0·05.

Baseline anthropometric and blood lipid markers were not significantly different between participants in control and intervention groups showing the groups were matched. The dietary composition of the diets at baseline and post intervention was the same except for saturated fatty acids in intervention group due to the inclusion of VCO. The results showed that there were no significant changes in body weight, BMI, body fat %, fat mass, fat free mass, waist and hip circumference between the groups. In addition to this, there were no significant changes in total cholesterol (TC), HDL and LDL values between the groups.

To conclude, the present study found that in contrast to previous research ( Reference Temme and Hornstra 2 ), short-term incorporation of coconut oil into the habitual diet showed no effects on anthropometric and blood lipid profile in free-living healthy adults.

References

1. Schwab, Niskanen, Maliranta, et al. (1995) J Nutr 125, 466–473.Google Scholar
2. Temme, Mensink and Hornstra, (1997) J Lipid Res 38, 1746–54.Google Scholar
3. Marten, Pfeuffer and Schrezenmeir, (2006) Int Dairy J 16, 1374–1382.Google Scholar